Reconfigurable sequencer structure

ABSTRACT

A cell element field for data processing, having function cell means for execution of algebraic and/or logic functions and memory cell means for receiving, storing and/or outputting information is described. Function cell-memory cell combinations are formed in which a control connection leads from the function cell means to the memory cell means.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/836,364, filed Jul. 14, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,928,763, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/541,299, filed onAug. 14, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,782,087, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/082,073, filed on Apr. 7, 2008 nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,602,214, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/526,595, filed on Jan. 9, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No.7,394,284, which is the National Stage of International PatentApplication Serial No. PCT/EP03/09957, filed on Sep. 8, 2003, whichclaims benefit of and priority to German Patent Application Serial No.DE 102 41 812.8, filed on Sep. 6, 2002, the entire contents of each ofwhich are expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a cell element field and a method foroperating same. The present invention thus relates in particular toreconfigurable data processing architectures.

The term reconfigurable architecture is understood to refer to units(VPUs) having a plurality of elements whose function and/orinterconnection is variable during run time. These elements may includearithmetic logic units, FPGA areas, input/output cells, memory cells,analog modules, etc. Units of this type are known by the term VPU, forexample. These typically include arithmetic and/or logic and/or analogand/or memory and/or interconnecting modules and/or communicativeperipheral modules (IOs), typically referred to as PAEs, which arearranged in one or more dimensions and are linked together directly orby one or more bus systems. PAEs are arranged in any configuration,mixture and hierarchy, the system being known as a PAE array or, forshort, a PA. A configuring unit may be assigned to the PAE. In additionto VPU units, in principle systolic arrays, neural networks,multiprocessor systems, processors having multiple arithmetic unitsand/or logic cells, interconnection and network modules such as crossbarcircuits, etc., as well as FPGAs, DPGAs, transputers, etc., are alsoknown

It should be pointed out that essential aspects of VPU technology aredescribed in the following protective rights of the same applicant aswell as in the particular follow-up applications to the protectiverights listed here:

P 44 16 881.0-53, DE 197 81 412.3, DE 197 81 483.2, DE 196 54 846.2-53,DE 196 54 593.5-53, DE 197 04 044.6-53, DE 198 80 129.7, DE 198 61088.2-53, DE 199 80 312.9, PCT/DE 00/01869, DE 100 36 627.9-33, DE 10028 397.7, DE 101 10 530.4, DE 101 11 014.6, PCT/EP 00/10516, EP 01 102674.7, DE 102 06 856.9, 60/317,876, DE 102 02 044.2, DE 101 29 237.6-53,DE 101 39 170.6.

It should be pointed out that the documents listed above areincorporated in particular with regard to particulars and details of theinterconnection, configuration, embodiment of architecture elements,trigger methods, etc., for disclosure purposes.

The architecture has considerable advantages in comparison withtraditional processor architectures inasmuch as data processing isperformed in a manner having a large proportion of parallel and/orvectorial data processing steps. However, the advantages of thisarchitecture in comparison with other processor units, coprocessor unitsor data processing units in general are not as great when the advantagesof interconnection and of the given processor architectonic particularsare no longer achievable to the full extent.

This is the case in particular when data processing steps that aretraditionally best mappable on sequencer structures are to be executed.It is desirable to design and use the reconfigurable architecture insuch a way that even those data processing steps which are typicallyparticularly suitable for being executed using sequencers are executableparticularly rapidly and efficiently.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel device and anovel method for commercial application.

The method of achieving this object is claimed independently. Preferredembodiments are characterized in the subclaims.

According to a first essential aspect of the present invention, in thecase of a cell element field whose function and/or interconnection isreconfigurable in particular during run time without interfering withunreconfigured elements for data processing with coarsely granularfunction cell elements in particular for execution of algebraic and/orlogic functions and memory cell means for receiving, storing and/oroutputting information, it is proposed that function cell-memory cellcombinations be formed in which a control connection to the memory meansis managed by the function cell means. This control connection is formaking the address and/or data input/output from the memory controllablethrough the particular function cell, typically an ALU-PAE. It is thuspossible to indicate, for example, whether the next item of informationtransmitted is to be handled as an address or as data and whether readand/or write access is necessary. This transfer of data from the memorycell, i.e., the memory cell means, which may be a RAM-PAE, for example,to the function cell means, which may be an ALU-PAE, for example, thenmakes it possible for new commands that are to be executed by the ALU tobe loadable into the latter. It should be pointed out that function cellmeans and memory cell means may be combined by integration into astructural unit. In such a case it is possible to use a single busconnection to input data into the memory cell means and/or the ALU.Suitable input registers and/or output registers may then be providedand, if desired, additional data registers and/or configurationregisters different from the former may also be provided as memory cellmeans.

It should also be pointed out that it is possible to construct a cellelement field containing a plurality of different cells and/or cellgroups, strips or similar regular patterns being preferably providedwith the different cells because these permit a very regular arrangementwhile facilitating the design equally in terms of hardware design andoperation. With such a strip-like arrangement or other regular layout ofa small plurality of different cell elements, for example, elementshaving integrated function cell means-memory cell means combinations,i.e., cells in which function cell means and memory cell means areintegrated according to the present invention, are provided centrally inthe field, where typically only a few different program steps are to beexecuted within a sequencer structure because, as has been recognized,this provides very good results for traditional data streamapplications, while more complex sequencer structures may be constructedat the edges of the field where, for example, an ALU-PAE whichrepresents a separate unit possibly may be provided in addition to aseparate RAM-PAE and optionally a number of I/O-PAEs using, i.e.,arranging appropriate control lines or connections thereof becausefrequently more memory is needed there, e.g., to temporarily storeresults generated in the field central area of the cell element fieldand/or for datastreaming, to pre-enter and/or process data neededthereby.

When cells that integrate memory cell means and function cell means areprovided, e.g., in the center of the field, a small memory may then beprovided there for different commands to be executed by the functioncell means such as the ALU. It is possible here in particular toseparate the command memory and/or the configuration memory from a datamemory, and it is possible to design the function memory to be so largethat alternatively, one of several, e.g., two different sequences may beexecuted. The particular sequence to be executed may occur in responseto results generated in the cell and/or control signals such as carrysignals, overflow signals, and/or trigger signals arriving from theoutside. In this way, this arrangement may also be used for wavereconfiguration methods.

In this way it is possible to construct a sequencer structure in a cellelement field by providing a dedicated control connection controlled byfunction cells in a dedicated manner between function cell and functioncell means and memory cell and/or memory cell means with only twoelements connected by suitable buses without requiring additionalmeasures and/or design changes otherwise. Data, addresses, programsteps, etc., may be stored in the memory cell in a manner known per sefrom traditional processors. Since both elements, if properlyconfigured, may also be used in another way, this yields a particularlyefficient design which is particularly adaptable to sequencer structuresas well as vectorial and/or parallelizable structures. Parallelizationmay thus be supported merely via suitable PAE configurations, i.e., byproviding PAEs that operate in two different spatial directions and/orvia cell units equipped with data throughput registers.

It is clear here that a plurality of sequencer type structures may beconstructed in the reconfigurable cell element field by using only twocells in a cell element field, namely the function cell and theinformation processing cell. This is advantageous inasmuch as a numberof different tasks that are different from one another per se must oftenbe executed in data processing, e.g., in a multitasking-capableoperating system. A plurality of such tasks must then be executedeffectively and simultaneously in a single cell element field. Theadvantages of real time applications are obvious. Furthermore it is alsopossible to operate the individual sequencer structures that areconstructed in a cell element field, providing the control connectionaccording to the present invention, at different clock rates, e.g., tolower power consumption by executing lower priority tasks at a slowerrate. It is also possible to execute sequencer type program parts in thefield in parallel or vectorially in execution of algorithms that arelargely parallel per se and vice versa.

Typically, however, it is preferable for sequencer-type structures to beclocked at a higher rate in the cell element field, whether they aresequencer-type structures having an area connected to neighboring cellsor buses or whether they are combinations of spatially differentiableseparate and separately useable function cell elements such as ALU-PAEsand memory cell elements such as RAM-PAEs. This has the advantage thatsequential program parts, which are very difficult to parallelize in anycase, may be used in a general data flow processing without any negativeeffect on the overall data processing. Examples of this include, e.g., aHUFFMANN coding which is executable much better sequentially than inparallel and which also plays an important role for applications such asMPEG4 coding, but in this case the essential other parts of the MPEG4coding are also easily parallelizable. Parallel data processing is thenused for most parts of an algorithm and a sequential processing block isprovided therein. An increase in the clock frequency in the sequencerrange by a factor of 2 to 4 is typically sufficient.

It should be pointed out that instead of a strip arrangement ofdifferent cell elements, another grouping, in particular amultidimensional grouping, may also be selected.

The cell element field having the cells whose function and/orinterconnection is configurable may obviously form a processor, acoprocessor and/or a microcontroller and/or a parallel plurality ofcombinations thereof.

The function cells are typically formed as arithmetic logic units, whichmay be in particular coarsely granular elements but may also be providedwith a fine granular state machine, for example. In a particularlypreferred exemplary embodiment, the ALUs are extended ALUs (EALUs) asdescribed in previous patent applications of the present applicant. Anextension may include in particular the control line check, commanddecoder unit, etc., if necessary.

The memory cells may store data and/or information in a volatile and/ornonvolatile form. When information stored in the memory cells, whetherprogram steps, addresses for access to data or data stored in aregister-type form, i.e., a heap is stored as volatile data, a completereconfiguration may take place during run time. Alternatively it ispossible to provide nonvolatile memory cells. The nonvolatile memorycells may be provided as an EEPROM area and the like, where arudimentary BIOS program that is to be executed on boot-up of the systemis stored. This permits booting up a data processing system withoutadditional components. A nonvolatile data memory may also be provided ifit is decided for reasons of cost and/or space that the same programparts are always to be executed repeatedly, and it is also possible toalternate among such fixed program parts during operation, e.g., in themanner of a wave reconfiguration. The possibilities of providing andusing such nonvolatile memories are the object of other protectiverights of the present applicant. It is possible to store both volatileand nonvolatile data in the memory cells, e.g., for permanent storage ofa BIOS program, and nevertheless be able to use the memory cell forother purposes.

The memory cell is preferably designed to be able to store a sufficientvariety of data to be executed and/or program parts to be executed. Itshould be pointed out here that these program parts may be designed asprogram steps, each specifying what an individual PAE, in particular theassigned PAE, i.e., in particular the function cell controlling thememory cell, is to do in the next step, and they may also include entireconfigurations for field areas or other fields. In such a case, it isreadily possible for the sequencer structure that has been created toissue a command on the basis of which cell element field areas arereconfigured. The function cell triggering this configuration thenoperates as a load logic at the same time. It should be pointed out thatthe configuration of other cells may in turn be accomplished in such away that sequencer type data processing is performed there and it is inturn possible in these fields to configure and/or reconfigure othercells in the course of program execution. This results in an iterativeconfiguration of cell element areas, and nesting of programs havingsequencer structures and parallel structures is possible, thesestructures being nested one inside the other like babushka dolls. Itshould be pointed out that access to additional cell element fieldsoutside of an individual integrated module is possible throughinput/output cells in particular, which may massively increase the totalcomputation performance. It is possible in particular whenconfigurations occur in a code part of a sequencer structure configuredinto a cell element field to perform, if necessary, the configurationrequirements on an assigned cell element field which is managed only bythe particular sequencer structure and/or such requirements may beissued to a configuration master unit to ensure that there is uniformoccupancy of all cell element fields. This therefore results in aquasi-subprogram call by transferring the required configurations tocells or load logics. This is regarded as independently patentable. Itshould be pointed out that the cells, if they themselves haveresponsibility for configuration of other cell element field areas, maybe provided with FILMO structures and the like implemented in hardwareor software to ensure proper reconfiguration. The possibility of writingto memory cells while executing instructions, thereby altering the code,i.e., the program to be executed, should be pointed out. In aparticularly preferred variant, however, this type of self-modification(SM) is suppressed by appropriate control via the function cell.

It is possible for the memory cell to send the information stored in itdirectly or indirectly to a bus leading to the function cell in responseto the triggering of the function cell controlling it. Indirect outputmay be accomplished in particular when the two cells are adjacent andthe information requested by the triggering must arrive at the ALU-PAEvia a bus segment that is not directly connectable to the output of thememory cell. In such a case the memory cell may output data onto thisbus system in particular via backward registers. It is thereforepreferable if at least one memory cell and/or function cell has such abackward register, which may be situated in the information path betweenthe memory cell and function cell. In such a case, these registers neednot necessarily be provided with additional functionalities, althoughthis is readily conceivable, e.g., when data is requested from thememory cell for further processing, corresponding to a traditional LOADof a typical microprocessor for altering the data even before it isloaded into the PAE, e.g., to implement a LOAD++ command. Dataconduction through PAEs having ALUs and the like operating in thereverse direction should be mentioned.

The memory cell is preferably situated to receive information from thefunction cell controlling it, information saving via an input/outputcell and/or a cell that does not control the memory cell also beingpossible. In particular when data is to be written into the memory cellfrom an input/output cell, it is preferable if this input/output cell(I/O-PAE) is also controlled by the function cell. The address at whichinformation to be written into the memory cell or, if necessary, to alsobe transmitted directly to the function cell (PAE) is to be read, mayalso be transferred to the I/O-PAE from the ALU-PAE. In this connectionit should be pointed out that this address may be determined via anaddress translation table, an address translation buffer or an MMU typestructure in the I/O-PAE. In such a case, this yields the fullfunctionalities of typical microprocessors. It should also be pointedout that an I/O functionality may also be integrated with a functioncell means, a memory cell means and/or a function cell means-memory cellmeans combination.

In a preferred variant, at least one input-output means is thus assignedto the combination of function cells and memory cells, whether as anintegrated function cell and a memory cell combination or as a functioncell and/or memory cell combination composed of separate units, theinput/output means being used to transmit information to and/or receiveinformation from an external unit, another function cell, function cellmemory cell combination and/or memory cells.

The input-output unit is preferably likewise designed for receivingcontrol commands from the function cell and/or the function cell means.

In a preferred variant, the control connection is designed to transmitsome and preferably all of the following commands:

OPCODE FETCH,

DATA WRITE INTERNAL,

DATA WRITE EXTERNAL

DATA READ EXTERNAL,

ADDRESS POINTER WRITE INTERNAL,

ADDRESS POINTER WRITE EXTERNAL,

ADDRESS POINTER READ INTERNAL,

ADDRESS POINTER READ EXTERNAL,

PROGRAM POINTER WRITE INTERNAL,

PROGRAM POINTER WRITE EXTERNAL,

PROGRAM POINTER READ INTERNAL,

PROGRAM POINTER READ EXTERNAL,

STACK POINTER WRITE INTERNAL,

STACK POINTER WRITE EXTERNAL,

STACK POINTER READ INTERNAL,

STACK POINTER READ EXTERNAL,

PUSH,

POP,

PROGRAM POINTER INCREMENT.

This may be accomplished through a corresponding bit width of thecontrol line and an associated decoding at the receivers. The particularrequired control means and decoding means may be provided inexpensivelyand with no problems. As it shows, a practically complete sequencercapability of the arrangement is obtained with these commands. It shouldalso be pointed out that a general-purpose processor data processingunit is obtained in this way.

The system is typically selected so that the function cell is the onlyone able to access the control connection and/or a bus segment, i.e.,bus system functioning as the control connection as a master. The resultis thus a system in which the control line functions as a command linesuch as that provided in traditional processors.

The function cell and the memory cell, i.e., I/O cell, are preferablyadjacent to one another. The term “adjacent” may be understoodpreferably as the cells being situated directly side by side. “Directly”means in particular a combination of such cells to form integrated unitswhich are provided repeatedly on the cell element field, i.e., as partof same to form the field. This may mean an integral unit of memorycells and logic cells. Alternatively, they are at least close together.The system of the function cells and memory cells in integrated, i.e.,close, proximity to one another thus ensures that there are no latencytimes, or at least no significant latency times, between triggering anddata input of the required information in the function cell, merelybecause the connections between the cells are too long. This isunderstood to be “direct.” If latency times must be taken into account,pipelining may then also be provided in the sequencer structures. Thisis particularly important in the case of systems with very high clockrates. It should be pointed out that it is readily possible to providecell units clocked at a suitably high frequency such as those known inthe related art per se which are also able to access suitable memorycells with appropriate speed. In such a case, e.g., when architectureelements that are known per se are used for the function cells,reconfigurability of the function cell element and the correspondinginterconnections must be provided. In a particularly preferred variant,the function cells, the information providing cells such as memorycells, I/O cells and the like are arranged multidimensionally, inparticular in the manner of a matrix, i.e., on grid points of amultidimensional grid, etc. If there is a regular structure, as is thecase there, information, i.e., operands, configurations, triggersignals, etc., is typically supplied to a cell from a first row, whiledata, trigger signals and other information is dispensed in a rowbeneath that. In such a case, it is preferable if the cells are situatedin one, and the same row and the information transfer from theinformation-providing cell into the required input into the functioncell may then take place via a backward register. The possibility ofusing the registers for pipelining should also be mentioned.

Patent protection is also claimed for a method for operating a cellelement field, in particular a multidimensional cell element fieldhaving function cells for execution of algebraic and/or logic functionsand information-providing cells, in particular memory cells and/orinput/output cells for receiving and/or outputting and/or storinginformation, at least one of the function cells outputting controlcommands to at least one information-providing cell, information for thefunction cell being provided there in response to the control commands,and the function cell being designed to perform the additional dataprocessing in response to the information thus provided to therebyprocess data in the manner of a sequencer at least from time to time.

Sequencer-type data processing is thus made possible in a reconfigurablefield by output of the control commands to the memory cell of thesequencer structure. The commands which may be output as controlcommands by the function cell permit a sequencer type operation such asthat known from traditional processors. It should be pointed out that itis readily possible to implement only parts of the aforementionedcommands but nevertheless ensure data processing that is completely ofthe sequencer type.

The present invention is described in greater detail below and as anexample on the basis of the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cell element field according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 a shows a detail thereof,

FIGS. 2 b, c show the detail from FIG. 2 a during various dataprocessing times,

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the detail from FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a particularly preferred variant of the detail,

FIG. 5 shows an example of the function folding onto a functioncell-memory cell combination according to the present invention,

FIG. 6 a shows an example of sequential parallel data processing

FIG. 6 b shows a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention

FIG. 7 shows an alternative to a function folding unit.

According to FIG. 1, a cell element field 1 for data processing includesfunction cell means 2 for execution of arithmetic and/or logic functionsand memory cell means 3 for receiving, storing and/or outputtinginformation, a control connection 4 connecting function cells 2 tomemory cells 3.

Cell element field 1 is freely configurable in the interconnection ofelements 2, 3, 4, namely without interfering with ongoing operation ofcell element parts that are not to be reconfigured. The connections maybe configured by switching bus systems 5 as necessary. In addition, theparticular functions of function cells 2 are configurable. The functioncells are arithmetic logic units extended by certain circuits thatpermit reconfiguration, e.g., state machines, interface circuit forcommunication with external load logic 6, etc. Reference is made to thecorresponding previous applications of the present applicant.

Cell elements 2, 3 of cell element field 1 are arrangedtwo-dimensionally in rows and columns, one memory cell 3 being situateddirectly next to a function cell 2 with three memory cell-function cellpairs per row, the function cells and memory cells being interconnectedby control connections 4. Function cells and memory cells 2, 3, or thecombination thereof have inputs which are connected to the bus systemabove the row in which the particular cell element is located to receivedata therefrom. In addition, cells 2, 3 have outputs which output datato bus system 5 below the row. As explained below, each memory cell 3 isalso provided with a backward register (BW) through which data from thebus below a row may be guided through to the bus above the particularrow.

Memory cell means 3 preferably has at least three memory areas, namely adata area, a program memory area and a stack area, etc. However, inother variants of the present invention it may be adequate provide onlytwo areas, namely a data memory and a program area memory, eachoptionally forming part of a memory cell means. It is possible inparticular to perform not simply a separation of a memory that isidentical in terms of hardware and is homogeneous per se into differentareas but instead to provide memory areas that are actually separatedphysically, i.e., in terms of hardware technology. In particular thememory width and/or depth may also be adapted to the particularrequirements. When a memory is designed in such a way that it has aprogram area and a data area in operation, it is preferable to designthis memory, i.e., memory area for simultaneous access to data andprogram memory areas, e.g., as a dual port memory. It may also bepossible to provide closely connected memory areas, in particular withina memory cell means-function cell means combination formed into anintegrated area as a pure cache memory into which data from remotememory sites is preloaded for rapid access during data processing.

Except for control connections 4 and the particular circuits within thefunction cells (ALU in FIG. 2) and/or memory cells (RAM in FIG. 2), thecell element field for data processing in FIG. 1 is a traditional cellelement field such as that which is known and conventional withreconfigurable data processing systems, e.g., a VPU according to XPPtechnology of the present applicant. In particular, the cell elementfield of FIG. 1 may be operated in the known way, so it has thecorresponding circuits for wave reconfiguration, for debugging,transferring trigger signals, etc.

The first distinguishing features of the cell element field of thepresent invention are derived from control connection 4 and thecorresponding circuit, which are described in greater detail below withreference to FIGS. 2 a through 2 c. It should be pointed out thatwhereas in FIG. 1, a control connection 4 always leads from a functioncell element located farther to the left to a memory cell locatedfarther to the right, specifically only and exactly to one such memorycell, it is also plausibly possible to provide a configurableinterconnection for the control lines to be able to address eithermemory cells situated elsewhere and/or more than one memory cell, ifnecessary, when there is a great memory demand for information to bereceived, stored and/or output by the memory cells. For reasons ofcomprehensibility, however, only individual control connections whichare provided in a fixed manner are referred to in FIGS. 1 and 2, whichgreatly simplifies understanding of the present invention. The controlconnection is also substitutable if necessary by traditional lines,assuming the proper protocols are available.

FIG. 2 shows function cell 2 as an ALU and function cell 3 as a RAM.Above the row in which the cells are located runs bus 5 a, connectingbackward register 3 a mentioned above to inputs 3 b of the memory celland 2 b of the ALU. The bus system running below the cell is labeled as5 c and only the relevant segments of bus system 5 a, 5 b are shownhere. It is apparent that bus system 5 b alternatively receives datafrom an output 2 c of ALU 2, an output 3 c of RAM 3 and carries datainto input 3 a 1 of the backward register.

ALU 2 at the same time has additional inputs and outputs 2 a 1, 2 a 2which may be connected to other bus segments and over which the ALUreceives data such as operands and outputs results.

Control connection 4 is permanently under control of the extendedcircuits of the ALU and represents here a connection over which aplurality of bits may be transferred. The width of control connection 4is selected so that at least the following control commands may betransmitted to the memory cell: DATA WRITE, DATA READ, ADDRESS POINTERWRITE, ADDRESS POINTER READ, PROGRAM POINTER WRITE, PROGRAM POINTERREAD, PROGRAM POINTER INCREMENT, STACK POINTER WRITE, STACK POINTERREAD, PUSH, POP. Memory cell 3 at the same time has at least threememory areas, namely a stack area, a heap area and a program area. Eacharea is assigned its own pointer via which it is determined to whicharea of the stack, the heap and the program area there will be read orwrite access in each case.

Bus 5 a is used jointly by units 2 and 3 in time multiplex. This isindicated in FIGS. 2 b, 2 c. FIG. 2 b illustrates a situation in whichdata may be sent from output 2 a 2 of ALU-PAE to the input of the RAMcell via the backward register, whereas the concurrently existing butunused connection between output 3 c of the RAM to bus 5 b and theconnection between the output of backward register BW to input 2 b ofthe ALU-PAE at the point in time of FIG. 2 b is of no importance, whichis why this is indicated with dashed lines. In contrast, FIG. 2 c showsa point in time at which memory cell 3 supplies information via itsoutput 3 c and the backward register to input 2 b of ALU-PAE 2 from thestack, heap or program memory area via control line 4, while the outputof ALU-PAE 2 c is inactive and no signal is received at input 3 b of theRAM-PAE. For this reason, the corresponding connections are indicatedwith dash-dot lines and are thus depicted as being inactive.

Within RAM cell 3, a circuit 3 d is provided in which the informationreceived via control line 4 and/or control line bus segment 4 isdecoded.

The present invention is used as follows:

First, ALU 2 receives configuration information from a central loadlogic, as is already known in the related art. The transfer ofinformation may take place in a manner known per se using the RDY/ACKprotocol and the like. Reference is made to the possibility of providinga FILMO memory, etc., with the load logic to permit a properconfiguration of the system.

Simultaneously with the data for configuring ALU 2, a series of data istransmitted from the load logic, representing a program, i.e., programpart to be executed in the manner of a sequencer. Reference is made inthis regard only as an example to FIG. 6 a in which the HUFFMANN codingis depicted as a central sequential part of an MPEG4 coding which isperformed in the manner of data flow per se. The ALU therefore outputs acorresponding command to line 4 during its configuration, this commandsetting the program pointer for writing at a preselected value withinthe RAM. The load logic then supplies data received by the ALU overoutput 2 c and via bus 5 b 1 and backward register 3 a, the data goingfrom there to input 3 b of RAM-PAE 3. According to the control commandon control line 4, data is then written from unit 3 d to the programmemory location indicated. This is repeated until all the program partsreceived by the load logic in configuration have been stored in memorycell 3. When the configuration of the ALU is then concluded, the ALUwill request the next program steps to be executed by it in the mannerof a sequencer by outputting the corresponding commands on control line4 and will receive the program steps via output 3 c, bus 5 b, thebackward register of RAM-PAE 3 and bus 5 a at its input. During programexecution, situations may occur in which jumps are necessary within theprogram memory area, data must be loaded into the ALU-PAE from theRAM-PAE, data must be stored in the stack, etc. The communication inthis regard between the ALU-PAE and RAM-PAE is accomplished via controlline 4 so that the ALU-PAE is able to execute decoding at any point intime. Moreover, as in a traditional microprocessor, data from a stack oranother RAM memory area may be received and in addition, data may alsobe received in the ALU-PAE from the outside as operands.

The program sequence preconfigured in the RAM-PAE by the load logic isexecuted here. At the same time, command decoding is performed in theALU-PAE as is necessary per se. This is done with the same circuits perse as those used already for decoding the commands received by the loadlogic.

At any point in time control line 4 is controlled via the ALU so thatthe RAM cell always exactly follows the type of memory access specifiedby the ALU. This ensures that regardless of the time multiplex use ofbus elements 5 a, b the elements present in the sequencer structure areinstructed at all times whether addresses for data or codes to beretrieved or to be written is on the buses or whether and if so wheredata is to be written, etc.

The system shown with respect to FIG. 2 may be extended or modified indifferent ways. The variants depicted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 areparticularly relevant.

According to FIG. 3, not only a backward register is provided on theRAM-PAE for connecting upper buses and lower buses, but also a forwardregister is provided on the RAM-PAE and forward and backward registersare provided on the ALU-PAE. As indicated by the multiple arrows, thesemay receive data from other units such as external hosts, externalperipherals such as hard drives, main memories and the like and/or fromother sequencer structures, PAEs, RAM-PAEs, etc., and send data to them.When an appropriate request command for new program parts from thesequencer structure formed by the ALU-PAE and the RAM-PAE is sent out,it is possible to process program blocks in the sequencer structurewhich are much larger than those storable in the RAM-PAE. This is anenormous advantage in particular in complex data processing tasks, jumpsover wide areas, in particular in subprograms, etc.

FIG. 4 shows an even more preferred variant where the ALU-PAEcommunicates not only with a RAM-PAE but also at the same time with aninput/output PAE which is designed to provide an interface circuit forcommunication with external components such as hard drives, otherXPP-VPUs, external processors and coprocessors, etc. The ALU-PAE is inturn the unit which operates as the master for the control connectionreferred to as “CMD” and the buses are in turn used in multiplex mode.Here again, data may be transferred from the bus below the row to thebus above the row through the backward register.

The system shown in FIG. 4 permits particularly easy external access toinformation stored in the RAM-PAE memory cell and thus allows anadaptation of the sequencer structure to existing traditional CPUtechnologies and their operating methods to an even greater extentinasmuch as address translation means, memory management units (MMUfunctions) and the like may be implemented in the input-output cell. TheRAM-PAE may function here as a cache, for example, but in particular asa preloaded cache.

It should be pointed out that multiple sequencer structures may beconfigured into one and the same field at the same time; that functioncells, memory cells and, if necessary, input-output cells may optionallybe configured for sequencer structures and/or [in] a traditional mannerfor XPP technology and that it is readily possible for one ALU to outputdata to another ALU, which configures it as a sequencer and/or makes itpart of a cell element field with which a certain configuration isexecuted. In this way, the load logic may then also become dispensable,if necessary.

According to FIG. 6, two embodiments of the present invention arecombined in one and the same cell element field, namely at the edges ofsequencers formed by two PAEs, namely by one RAM-PAE and one ALU-PAE,and in the interior sequencers formed by integrated RAM-ALU-PAEs asintegrated function cell-memory cell units, where it is possible to formonly part of the cells inside the field as combination cells.

FIG. 5 shows at the right (FIG. 5 c) a function cell-memory cell meanscombination.

According to FIG. 5 c, a function cell-memory cell means combinationlabeled as 50 in general includes bus connections, i.e., bus inputs 51for the input of operand data and configuration data and, as ispreferably also possible here in particular, trigger signals (not shown)and the like and a bus output 52 for output of corresponding data and/orsignals. Within the function cell means-memory cell means combination,an ALU 53 is provided as well as input registers Ri0 through Ri3 foroperand data and trigger signal input registers (not shown).Configuration data registers Rc0 through Rc7 for configuration data,i.e., ALU code data, result data registers Rd0′-R3′ and output registersRo0 through Ro3 for results, i.e., trigger signals to be output.Registers Rc and Rd for the configuration data, i.e., opcode data, aretriggered by ALU 53 via control command lines 4 and supply data oversuitable data lines to the ALU and/or receive result data from it. It isalso possible to supply information directly from bus 51 and/or inputregisters Ri directly to the output registers, i.e., bus 52, exactly asinformation may be supplied from data registers Rd0 not only to the ALU,but also to the output registers. If necessary, connections may beprovided between memory areas Rd and Rc, e.g., for implementation of thepossibility of self-modifying codes.

Configuration data area Rc0 through Rc7 has a control unit which makesit possible to work in parts of the area, in particular in repeatedcycles and/or through jumps. For example, in a first partialconfiguration, commands in Rc0 through Rc3 may be executed repeatedly,and alternatively configuration commands in Rc4 through Rc7 may beexecuted, e.g., on receipt of an appropriate different trigger signalover bus line 51. This ensures executability of a wave configuration. Itshould be pointed out that the configuration commands input aretypically only instructions to the ALU but do not define complete busconnections, etc.

The unit described above, illustrated in FIG. 5, is designed here to beoperated with a quadruple clock pulse, like a normal PAE without memorycell means and/or control signal lines 4.

To process data sequencer-style in a data flow in the function foldingunit designed in this way, data flow graphs and/or areas according toFIG. 5 a are created at first for preselected algorithms. Memory areasRc0 are then assigned to each operation to be executed in the graph;incoming data into the graph partial area is assigned to internal inputregisters Ri0; the interim results are assigned to memories Rd0 throughRd3 and the output results are assigned to registers Ro. With thisassignment, the graph area is executable on the function folding unit.This results more or less in a data flow-sequencer transformation bythis hardware.

It should be mentioned in this context that it will be preferable ingeneral to use the system of the present invention in such a way thatfirst a data flow graph and a control flow graph are created for a dataprocessing program using a compiler and then a correspondingpartitioning is performed; the pieces obtained by the partitioning maythen be executed partially or entirely on sequencer units such as thosewhich may be formed according to the present invention, for example.This more or less achieves data processing in the manner of data flowprogressing from one cell to the next, but effects a sequentialexecution within the cell(s). This is advantageous when the clockfrequency is to be increased because of the extremely high computationpower of a system to be able to reduce the area and/or number of cells.It should also be pointed out that it is possible to perform thistransformation like transition from a purely data flow type of dataprocessing to data flow processing with local sequential parts in such away that an iterative process is carried out, e.g., in such a mannerthat first a first partitioning is performed, and if it is then found inthe subsequent “rolling up” of the partitioned parts on sequencer unitsthat the resources available on the sequencers or at other sites, forexample, are not sufficient, another partitioning taking this intoaccount may be performed and a new “rolling up” may be performed. Ifextensive use of the function folding units is desired, the number ofregisters may be increased, if necessary.

It should also be pointed out that the registers in this case may beinterpreted as memory cell means or parts thereof. It is apparent thatby increasing the memory cell areas, more complex tasks may be arrangedin particular in a sequencer fashion but significant parts of importantalgorithms may be executed with the small sizes indicated and this maybe done with high efficiency.

In the present example, the function folding units are preferably formedin such a way that data may be shifted through them without beingprocessed in the ALU. This may be utilized to achieve path balancing inwhich data packets must be executed via different branches and thenrecombined without having to use forward registers such as those knownfrom the architecture of the present applicant. At the same time and/oralternatively, it is possible for the direction of data flow not to runstrictly in one direction in the cell element field through anappropriate orientation of a few function cell means, memory cell means,or function folding units but instead to have the data flow run in twoopposite directions. Thus, for example, in each even row the ALUsreceive their input operands from the left side and in each uneven rowthe ALUs receive their input operands from the right.

If data must be sent repeatedly through the field, such an arrangementis advantageous, e.g., in the case of unrolled looped bodies, etc. Thealternating arrangement need not be strict. For certain applications,other geometries may be selected. For example, a different direction offlow may be selected for the middle of the field than at the edges, etc.The arrangement of function cell units of the same direction of flowside by side may be advantageous with respect to the bus connections. Itshould be pointed out that the arrangement in opposite directions ofmultiple directional function cells in one field and the resultingimproved data processing independently of providing a control line orthe like are regarded as inventive.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative to the function folding unit shown in FIG.5.

1. A field of cell elements for data processing, the field comprising: aplurality of function cells, each (a) adapted for executing at least oneof algebraic and logic functions and (b) including at least onearithmetic logic unit (ALU); a plurality of memory cells adapted for atleast one of receiving, storing, and outputting processing data; and aconfigurable bus system adapted for being sequentially configured duringprogram runtime into a plurality of different configurations that eachprovides a respective set of connections of memory cells of theplurality of memory cells to function cells of the plurality of functioncells, different ones of the plurality of different configurations beingused for processing of different respective sequential parts of theprogram via the respective connections of the configurations; wherein:the sets of connections differ between at least some of the differentconfigurations; and for each function cell to memory cell connection ofthe sets of connections, the function cell of the respective connectioncontrols memory accesses of the memory cell of the respectiveconnection.
 2. The field as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one ofa processor, coprocessor, and microcontroller configures at least one ofrespective functions and interconnection a plurality of the functioncells and memory cells.
 3. The field as recited in claim 1, wherein atleast one of the arithmetic logic units is formed as an extended ALU. 4.The field as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory cells include atleast one of volatile and nonvolatile data memories.
 5. The field asrecited in claim 1, wherein the memory cells of at least some of theconnections store data to be processed.
 6. The field as recited in claim1, wherein a memory cell of at least one of the connections is adaptedfor sending stored information one of directly and indirectly to therespective connection leading to a respective function cell of theconnection in response to triggering by the respective function cell. 7.The field as recited in claim 1, wherein a memory cell of at least oneof the connections is adapted for sending stored information indirectlyto the respective connection leading to a respective function cell ofthe connection, the indirect sending being via a backward registersituated between the respective memory cell and function cell.
 8. Thefield as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the memory cells issituated to receive information from at least one of the function cellwhich controls it, an input-output cell, and one of the function cellsthat does not control it.
 9. The field as recited in claim 1, wherein,for each of at least one of the connections, at least one input-outputcell is assigned to the connection for at least one of sendinginformation to and receiving information from at least one of anexternal unit, a function cell that is not part of the connection,another one of the connections, and a memory cell that is not part ofthe connection.
 10. The field as recited in claim 9, wherein theinput-output cell assigned to the connection is adapted for receivingcontrol commands from the function cell of the connection to which it isassigned.
 11. The field as recited in claim 9, wherein, for the each ofthe at least one of the connections, at least one of (a) the functioncell of the respective connection is adapted for transmitting, and (b)at least one of the memory cell and the input-output cell of therespective connection is adapted for decoding, at least some of thefollowing commands: DATA WRITE/READ, ADDRESS POINTER WRITE/READ, PROGRAMPOINTER WRITE/READ, PROGRAM POINTER INCREMENT, STACK POINTER WRITE/READ,PUSH, POP, OPCODE, and FETCH.
 12. The field as recited in claim 1,wherein, for each of at least one of the connections, the function cellof the connection is a sole master for controlling access of theconnection.
 13. The field as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe function cells is situated adjacent to at least one of: (a) at leastone of the memory cells and (b) an input-output cell.
 14. The field asrecited in claim 1, further comprising at least one input-output cell,wherein the plurality of functions cells, the plurality of memory cells,and the at least one input-output cell are arranged in amultidimensional matrix of rows and columns, each of at least one of:(a) at least one of the plurality of function cells, (b) at least one ofthe plurality of memory cells, and (c) at least one of the at least oneinput-output cell being adapted for receiving data from an upper row andoutputting data into a lower row.
 15. The field as recited in claim 1,wherein the memory cells of at least some of the connections storeprograms steps to be executed.
 16. The field as recited in claim 1,wherein, for each of at least one of the connections, at least one of(a) the function cell of the respective connection is adapted fortransmitting, and (b) the memory cell of the respective connection isadapted for decoding, at least some of the following commands: DATAWRITE/READ, ADDRESS POINTER WRITE/READ, PROGRAM POINTER WRITE/READ,PROGRAM POINTER INCREMENT, STACK POINTER WRITE/READ, PUSH, POP, OPCODE,and FETCH.
 17. The field as recited in claim 1, wherein the memoryaccess control is performed by transmission of at least one ofread-enable and write enable signals.
 18. The field as recited in claim14, wherein a single row of the matrix includes at least one of theplurality of function cells, at least one of the plurality of memorycells, and at least one of the at least one input-output cell.
 19. Amethod for operating a field of cell elements for data processing, thefield including: (a) plurality of function cells each adapted forexecuting at least one of algebraic and logic functions and including atleast one arithmetic logic unit (ALU), (b) a plurality of memory cellsadapted for at least one of receiving, outputting, and storingprocessing data, and (c) a configurable bus system, the methodcomprising: during runtime of a program, sequentially configuring thebus system into a plurality of different configurations that eachprovides a respective set of hardware connections of memory cells of theplurality of memory cells to function cells of the plurality of functioncells; and processing different respective sequential parts of theprogram by different respective ones of the plurality of differentconfigurations via the respective connections of the configurations;wherein: the sets of connections differ between the differentconfigurations; and for each function cell to memory cell connection ofthe sets of connections, the function cell of the connection controlsmemory accesses of the memory cell of the connection.
 20. The method asrecited in claim 19, wherein each of at least one of the plurality offunction cells is adapted for outputting for its memory access controlat least some of the following control commands: OPCODE FETCH, DATAWRITE INTERNAL, DATA WRITE EXTERNAL, DATA READ INTERNAL, DATA READEXTERNAL, ADDRESS POINTER WRITE INTERNAL, ADDRESS POINTER WRITEEXTERNAL, ADDRESS POINTER READ INTERNAL, ADDRESS POINTER READ EXTERNAL,PROGRAM POINTER WRITE INTERNAL, PROGRAM POINTER WRITE EXTERNAL, PROGRAMPOINTER READ INTERNAL, PROGRAM POINTER READ EXTERNAL, STACK POINTERWRITE INTERNAL, STACK POINTER WRITE EXTERNAL, STACK POINTER READINTERNAL, STACK POINTER READ EXTERNAL, PUSH, POP, and PROGRAM POINTERINCREMENT.